New construction prices down South

[Rawls007]

Down here in the Katrina ravaged counties on the Gulf Coast I've been charging $4 to $4.50 a square foot for new construction, with customers supplying their own surface mounted light fixtures and ceiling fans. Material prices are through the roof around here. Although I'm not strictly a square foot bidder, I use it to check my prices against other electricians in my area. Yesterday I ran into a GC who said he has an electrician doing 50 homes a year for him at $2.10 a foot and said I could do one of his subdivisions for him at that price if I wanted. I politely declined and told him that I would be close to that price just in material and labor costs (which is true).

Are there any other electricians on this forum from the Gulf Coast region? If so, what does the average new construction price for you come in at in terms of SQ. FT?

[mtnelectrical]

I am not from that area but just out of curiosity could you detail how are those houses, 1 floor, 2 floor , one family, 150 Amp or 200 Amp service, etc?

[Bob NH]

A search of the web didn't turn up any licensing requirements for electricians. They have contractor licensing but not electricians.

The $2.10/sq ft guy may be using a lot of available labor not qualified as electricians.

[77401]

I play Golf with one of the biggest Custom builders here. I don't work for him though. He is paying $3.50 to $4.00 per foot for 7000+ sqft 400 amps 5 central A/C's

[dduffee260]

I play Golf with one of the biggest Custom builders here. I don't work for him though. He is paying $3.50 to $4.00 per foot for 7000+ sqft 400 amps 5 central A/C's

Maybe if you let him win a game or two he might let you do is work ???

[hillbilly]

Down here in the Katrina ravaged counties on the Gulf Coast I've been charging $4 to $4.50 a square foot for new construction, with customers supplying their own surface mounted light fixtures and ceiling fans. Material prices are through the roof around here. Although I'm not strictly a square foot bidder, I use it to check my prices against other electricians in my area. Yesterday I ran into a GC who said he has an electrician doing 50 homes a year for him at $2.10 a foot and said I could do one of his subdivisions for him at that price if I wanted. I politely declined and told him that I would be close to that price just in material and labor costs (which is true).

Are there any other electricians on this forum from the Gulf Coast region? If so, what does the average new construction price for you come in at in terms of SQ. FT?

I'm not from the gulf coast, but I'm from the south. I believe that I would let the other electrician keep the work and keep going broke. He's probably close since the GC is looking for a new fish.
$2.10 a square foot, maybe in 96, not 06.
steve

[dduffee260]

Maybe we should start bidding houses at $2.00 a cubic foot. Let's say it is a 2000 sq ft house with 10 ft ceilings. That would be 2000 x 10 = 20,000 cubic foot. 20,000 cubic ft x $2.00 = $40,000. That is more like the price we need. Ok, why get greedy, I will do mine for $1.85 a cubic foot.